Lightning-arrester



(NoModeL) L. T. YOUNG.

LIGHTNING ARRESTER. No. 248,825. Patented Oct. 25,1881.

FZG.J,

WW 31M? UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

LEWIS T. YOUNG, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

LlGHTNlNG-ARRESTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 248,825, dated October25, 1881.

Application filed August 15, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LEWIs T. YOUNG, a citizenof the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain Improvements in Lightning-Arresters for ElectricalConductors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of a mode of and apparatus for intercepting anddisposing of the electricity with which insulated telegraph-conductorsmay be charged by lightning,thereby preventing accidents in localitiestraversed by such conductors, in yiuvention being especially applicableto nnderground-telcgraph lines.

In the accompanying drawings,Figure1 illustrates the application of myinvention to underground-telegraph conductors, and Figs. 2 and 3 viewsof the device by which my invention is, by preference, carried intoeffect.

In Fig. 2, A A is an insulated telegraphwire confined at a suitablepoint between two blocks, B B, of metal, or the lower blockonly may beof metal, and from this a conductor, D, extends to the ground. At thepoint where the conductor A A passes between the blocks of metal theinsulating clothing of the wire is reduced in thickness, and as anexcessive charge of electricity will always endeavor to escape where theinsulation presents the least resistance, a violent charge imparted bylightning to the portion A of the conductor will pass through thethinnest portion of theinsulatin g clothing and will be directed to theground, so that there can be no transmission of the atmosphericelectricity to or through the portion A of the conductor.

It will be understood that after reducing the insulating clothing of theconductor there is enough left to prevent the passage to the ground-wireof the electric or induced currents used in the transmission of messagesthrough the conductor.

Where there are a number of wires I prefer to make the blocksas shown inFig. 3-that is, to hingethe blocks or bars at one end and confine themby a set-screw at the opposite end,

the bars being grooved for receiving the conductors, which are thusclamped between the blocks, from one of which a conductor, D, extends tothe ground. This plan may be adopted in applying my invention tounderground-conductors, as shown in Fig. 1, where G representsa vaultacross which extend a number of conductors passing through conduits H H,and theinsulated wires being clamped between the bars at or near thecenter of the vault.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination of an insulated conductorhaving its insulating clothing reduced at any desired point, aground-wire, a metal block connected thereto, and a device for attaching the said block to the reduced portion of the conductor, allsubstantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a series of insulated conductors the insulatedclothing of which is reduced, as set forth, with clamping-blocks B B,for confining the conductors when they are reduced, and a conductor bywhich one or both of the said blocks is made to communicate with theground, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to'this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

LEWIS T. YOUNG.

Witnesses ALEX. R-AMsEY, Enwn. RAMsEY.

